Wheatus

Wheatus are an alternative rock band from Northport, United States, active since 1995. They form around Brendan B. Brown, who sings and plays guitar, and the group’s line-up has included Rich Liegey, Philip A. Jimenez, Peter McCarrick Brown, Mike McCabe, Kathryn Froggatt, Matthew Milligan, Gabrielle Sterbenz, Joey Slater, Brandon Ticer and Madden Klass. Their listed genres include alternative rock, pop rock, power pop and rock.

Formation and early recordings

Brendan Brown forms the band in 1998 after writing several songs, then brings in his brother Peter Brown on drums and Rich Ligey on bass to cut a demo. The group signs to Columbia Records in 1999.

Albums and label changes

Their debut album, Wheatus, appears the following year and includes their first major hit, “Teenage Dirtbag”, which is associated with the film Loser. For the second album, Hand Over Your Loved Ones, Shannon Harris of Relish joins on keyboards. After disagreements with the label, largely over Brendan Brown’s wish to self-produce, the album receives little promotion and sells poorly. Michael Bellar later joins on keyboards, and the band re-releases the second album with two new songs on their own label, Montauk Mantis, under the title Suck Fony.

Later personnel changes and releases

In 2005 the band releases its third studio album, TooSoonMonsoon, again on its own label. That same year, Mike McCabe and Michael Bellar leave and are replaced by Nicolas diPierro and Gerard Hoffman. The following year, diPierro and Pete Brown leave and Matt Milligan and Kevin Garcia join. The current line-up listed includes Brendan Brown, Matt Milligan, Gerald Hoffman, Kevin Garcia, Johanna Cranitch and Georgia Haege.